Hog-trap



Ptented Feb. 7, |899. A. MAHANNAH & c. H. BERGER.

HUG TRAP.

(No Model.)

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Z1/6 manina@ arlesi' Berger UNI'EED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALVA MAHANNAH AND CHARLES H. BERGER, OE CASNER, ILLINOIS.

HOG-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,196, dated February 7, 1899.

Application filed June 9, 1898. Serial No. 682,982. (No model.)

To all whom. t may concern,.-

Beit known that we, ALvA MAHANNAH and CHARLES H. BERGER, citizens of the United States, residing at Casne'r, in the county of Macon and State of Illinois, have inventedV certain new and useful Improvements in Hog-Traps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to the care of live stock, and more especially to hog-traps or such machines as are used for catching and holding hogs, sheep, and the like while ringing or performing other operations on them; and the object of the same is to produce improvements in devices of this character.

To this end the invention consists in the details of construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a perspective view of this device in position ready to receive the animal. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the outer end of the front framework, showing the stanchions turned over to the left and hooked. Fig. 3 is a detail showing the adjustment at the lower ends of the stanchions. Fig. 4is a detail in section, showing the engagement of the catch and the door as swung open.

Referring to the said drawings, the numeral l designates the rear framework, and 2 the front framework, which parts are connected by a flooring 3, with suitable sides 4. and 5, whereof the latter is adapted to be let down, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. The front framework is double, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and between the parts and near the right side thereof is pivoted a pair of upright stanchions 6 and 7, both of which are dished or cut away, as at 8, at opposite points within the framework. The left stanchion 6 is pivoted on a bolt 9 through the front framework, and l0 is a strap projecting from its foot (see Fig. 3) through a slot in the foot of the right stanchion 7 and provided with a number of holes l1 to receive a bolt l2. By this means the distance apart of these two stanchions at their lower ends can be adjusted as desired. In the front portion of the front standard 2 is hinged a door 13, adapted to be fastened and closed by suitable buttons 14. and when in this position to close the left half of this framework. When the buttons are disengaged and the door swung open, the `entire framework will be open, as is clear.

15 is a hook connected with one lof the stanchions and adapted to engage an eye or staple 1G on the top of the framework 2 when the stanchions are upright o r another eye or staple 17 on the left side of this framework when the stanchions are inclined, as described below. However, any other suitable means may be employed for holding the stanchions in their proper positions.

The upper ends of the stanchions are connected by a toggle-lever comprising a link member 20, pivoted to one (here the left) stanchion, and a hand-lever 2l, pivoted to the other stanchion, these two members being pivotally connected at 22 between the stanchions, as shown. In the present instance the handlever 21 extends out to the right and is curved upward, as shown, whereby it will clear the framework when the stanchons are turned over to the left.

23 is a strap connected at 24 to the right stanchion and passing through a slot 25 in the hand-lever, at which point it is engaged by a set-screw 26. By this means after the hand-lever has been depressed to draw the stanchions toward each other to the proper extent the set-screw 26 is tightened on the strap 23 to hold the stanchions in that relative position.

27 is a catch mounted at its upper end on the pivot 22 and depending beyond the farther side of the front framework 2, its hook 28 engagingbeneath this framework when the lever is raised, and its lower end 29 at this time standing in the path of, but beyond, the opening between the dished portions 8 of the two stanchions.

All parts of this device are of the desired sizes, shapes, proportions, and materials, and considerable change in and addition to the specific details of construction may be made without departing from the principle of our invention.

In operation the device is set up at the smaller end of a suitable runway, as usual, and into this runway are driven the hogs or other animals to be treated. Passing out said smaller end one animal enters the opening IOO through the rear framework and passes over the flooring 3 toward the other end, finally putting his head through the opening between the stanchions and pressing his nose against or under the lower end 29 of the catch 27. This movement disengages the hook 28 of said catch from beneath the front framework, as will be clear, and the heavy outer end of the lever 21 immediately falls, thus drawing the two stanchions together and clamping them against opposite sides of the animals-neck. The set-screw 26is then tightened on the strap 23 at the point it occupies within the slot 25, and the operator is prepared to ring the nose of the animal or perform such other treatment as may be required.

In some cases it becomes necessary to throw the animal on its side, and in order to do this the door 13 is swung open, so as to permit the animals head to swing over to the left, the hook 15 is disengaged from the eye 16, the handle 21 graspedand pushed to the left, and both stanchions turned about the pivot 9 to the position shown in Fig. 2, when the hookv 15 is engaged Withthe staple 17. Obviously ropes may be led from suitable rings or other points in the device to tie and support or hold the animals legs.

We consider the adjustment at the lower ends of the stanchions as particularly important in this connection for the reason that when the device is used upon hogs whose necks are broad and fat the stanchions must stand normally farther apart than when it is used upon sheep or smaller animals. Obviously-the adjustment at this point must be made before the animal enters, and clearly it is effected by removing the bolt 12, sliding the lower end of the right stanchion out or in on the strap 10, and reinserting the bolt through another of the holes 11. We have shown and described this form of adjustment as giving our preferred arrangement of this point, although we reserve the right to employ other adjustments, if found more desirable, or to omit entirely.

stanchion and having a number of holes in its body, and a bolt through the last-mentioned stanchion and one of said holes, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a slotted framework, a pair of substantially upright stanchions therein, a toggle-lever connecting the upper ends of said stanchions, one link thereof being continued into a handle provided with a slot, a strap attached to one stanchion and projecting through said slot, and a set-screw in the handle bearing on said strap; of a pivot through the framework and the lower end of one stanchion, a strap leading from this stanchion through the other stanchion andV having a number of holes in its body, and abolt through the last-mentioned stanchion and one of said holes, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination witha slotted framework, a

pair of substantially upright stanchions therein, a toggle-lever connecting the upper ends of said stanchions, one link thereof being continued into a handle provided with a slot, a strap attached to one stanchion and-projecting through said slot, and a set-screw in the handle bearing on said strap; of a bolt through the framework and the lower end of one stanchion, and means for locking the lower end of the other stanchion at adjusted positions from the lower end of the first stanchion, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a devicepof the character described, the combination with an open framework having a transverse slot, a pair of stanchions connected at their lower ends and pivoted in the framework so as to move within said slot, and a toggle-lever connecting the upper ends of said stanchions, one link thereof being continued into a handle; of a door adapted to close the portion of the framework unoccupied by the stanchions when they stand upright, and a catch depending from the pivot of the toggle and having a hook engaging the top of the framework when the stanchions are open, the lower end of the catch projecting into the space between the stanchions, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a substantially rectangular framework having a transverse slot, a pair of stanchions pivotally connected at their lower ends to the framework within this slot and when upright standing at the right side of the framework, and means for approximating their upper ends and locking them in adjusted position; of a door adapted to close the left portion of the framework, a hook on one stanchion, an eye on the framework at a point to be engaged by said hook when the stanchions are upright, and another eye on the framework adapted to be engaged by said hook When the stanchions are inclined, all as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ALVA MAHANNAH. CHARLES H. BERGER.

Witnesses:

MARION DAvIs, W. A. FLEcK.

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